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Brian Saramago named to U.S. U-19 roster for Copa de Athletico

HARRISON, N.J. (January 27, 2016) – United States U-19 head coach Brad Friedel has named Red Bulls Academy player Brian Saramago to a 23-player roster for the Copa de Athletico tournament in Canary Islands, Spain, the team’s first tournament of 2016.

“Brian has been one of the most consistent attacking talents in his age group for the past few seasons,” Red Bulls U-18 head coach Simon Nee said. “The U-19 call up was well earned with the form Brian showed before the winter break and the tournament will be an excellent opportunity for him in his development against top class international opposition.”

Saramago, a native of Garden City Park, N.Y., currently plays for the Red Bulls U-18 in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and has prior experience with the national team. In September 2015, the forward was called up alongside Tyler Adams and Matthew Olosunde to the final U.S. U-17 camp in the lead up to the FIFA U-17 World Cup. With Red Bulls U-18, he started 10 games in the 2015 Fall season and scored a team-high nine goals, including four goals in the final three games of the season at the U-18 Development Academy Winter Showcase.

In the 2014-15 season with Red Bulls U-16, Saramago scored a team-high 31 goals in 32 games. Last Spring, Saramago played with New York Red Bulls II, the Red Bulls’ professional United Soccer League team, and saw action in five games, including one start.

The tournament runs from Jan. 27 - Feb. 6 and will feature three matches. The U.S. will face Spain on Feb. 2, followed by France on Feb. 3, and finish against Canary Islands on Feb. 5.

All players on the roster were born in 1998 and could potentially earn a spot on the U.S. U-20 squad that will play in the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Nicaragua with the aim of gaining a berth for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.